Making moving pictures



Jan. 12 1926.

E. SCHUFFTAN MAKING MOVING PICTURES Filed pt. 15, 1923 a Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. .12 1926.

E. SCHUFFTAN MAKING MOVING PICTURES Filed Sept. 15, 1923 I/IIIIIIIIIIIIII/III/III/lh 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 12 1926. 1,569,789

E. SCHUFFTAN MAKING MOVING PICTURES Filed Sept. 15, 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 12 1926. 1,569,789

E. SCHUFFTAN uxmeuovme PICTURES Filed Sept. 15, 1923 6 Shoots-$1 G. 5

Aarng Jan. 12 1926.

E. SCHUFFTAN MAKING MOVING PICTURES Fliled Sept. 15, 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Jan. 12, 1926..

UNITED STATES EUGEN SCHI IFFTAN, OF BERLIN-WILMERSDORF, GERMANY.

MAKING MOVING PICTURES.

Application filed September 15, 1928. Serial No. 663,011.

'1. all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, Even Scniirmum, a citizen of Germany, and a resident of 41 Laubacherstrasse, in the city of Berlin-Vilmersdorf, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Making Moving Pictures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention refers broadly to means .of producing composite cinematographic or moving pictures, and it is particularly intended to improve the reproduction of movable objects or persons on a substantially immovable back-ground. As heretofore practiced it has been usual in the taking of pictures for cinematographic purposes to build up and compose the object with the entire scenery in their natural shape and sizes. It has, however, been suggested to place the back ground on a reduced scale in front of the fore-ground, but by this procedure portions of the actual fore-ground or of the personages acting upon it are very likely to be covered up by the back ground which has been placed in front during the taking of the picture. In order to overcome this inconvenience I proceed according to my invention by reproducing only 1 a portion of the scenery on which the acting personages are moving in its natural shape, form and size; this portion of the object being reproduced by a mirror the outlines of which exactly correspond to the shape and sizes of the object on a reduced scale,

' while the supplemental object isarranged at the rear of the mirror and on a reduced scale in such a manner that it will reproduce the total object, when combined with the image shown by the mirror. By this means the proper sequence of elements, the apparatus, fore-ground and back-ground is always insured, inasmuch as the mirror with correspondingly reduced fore-ground has been disposed in front ofthe reduced back ground. In view of this arrangement the total object is made to contract at a certain point into the total picture with the assistance of the mirrors.

I may also make use of a plurality of mirrors which, whenever required are mounted on special shutters or upon the model on a reduced scale, so that several personages acting at different points may be combined into a composite total picture. the reduced model I may also make use of Instead of a Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section b of the mirror shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view in elevation of a modified form of a mirror having means for increasing the reflecting surface of an appara tus.

Figure 5 is a transverse section of the mirror shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a section showing the construction of the mirror in Figure 4.

Figure 7 shows more or less diagrammatically a modified form of the arrangement disclosed in Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a View in elevation of the front part of a building having several stories.

Figure 9 shows more or less diagrammatically a further modification of the arrangement disclosed in Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a diagram of another modified arrangement for taking pictures according to the principles of my invention.

Referring more particularly to Figure 1,

an object, set or scene of full size is reproduced by means of a mirror and by the camera 5. This mirror, indicated at 7, is so constructed that it will reflect only portions of the object i which may be required for moving pictures while an object 9 located at the rear of the mirror 7 will be visible from the direction of the camera through transparent portion 8 coordinated with the mirror 7 so that the model 9 may be directly photographed by the camera. The set or scene shown at 4 represents a complement-a1 portion of the model 9 so that when the two images formed in the camera are fitted together they will form a composite image of a complete scene which is desired for a special picture.

The construction of the mirror 7 and the transparent member 8 assumes in 9. articular form a trans arent member suc as glass or any other ight transmitting medium on the surface of which, which faces the set 4, is formed a reflecting surface orand the light transmitting member 8. The a mirror, as will be appreciated from an inspection of the drawing, acts also as a mask for preventin light rays entering the camera from t at portion of the model 9 which is represented by the complemental set 4. a

The form of construction of the mirror shown in Figures 2 and 3 discloses two transparent glass plates 10 between which a mirror composed of small fractional parts 11 may be arranged to corres 'ond exactly to the image in the mirror 0 the natural object.

In the form of construction shown in Figures 4 to 6 inclusive the mirror comprises a frame 12 closed at the back by a transparent glass plate 13. Upon said plate 13 a mirror 14 is mounted which is composed of small single fractions or tongues and which is maintained in positionby two bars 15 and screws 16 so that the reflecting side is on the outer surface. In front of this divisional mirror, a glass plate 17 is arranged which is provided upon its inner surface confronting the mirror, with a reflecting coating 18 similar to a grating. The line 21 and the other line of demarcation in Figure 4 correspond to the outlines of the full sized set 4 which outlines are also to be simulated by the shape of the mirrors 7 and 14.

By releasing the screw 16 the sections of the mirror maybe displaced in such a manner as to correspond to the outlines of the object to be fproduced. In place of a mirror composed 0 small individual sections, any other surface of different material may be arranged behind the grating and said surface being either carried by individual members corresponding to the small individual sections or, still more advantageously, a mirror formed on a transparent member may have a portion removed to provide a transparent section with theremaining reflecting surface conforming substantially to the outlines of the full sized set 4 and operating as a mask for the complemental portion of the model 9,

therefore is prevented from completely appearing in the image reflected by the mirror in consequence thereof. In such case, the operator laces in front of mirror 14 or 17 an additional mirror 19 corresponding to the entire full size of the picture and balanced by weights 22 so that the acting person may be fully reproduced. It becomes necessary, however, that in this case the background of the natural object or set 4 is maintained perfectly black. When the actor steps back within the outlines of the image of the natural object the mirror 19 is withdrawn. By any suitable means the length of the strip of the film reproduced by the mirror 19 1s positively determined and maintained and after the photographing of the film has been completed a strip of film of equal length is made with the sup lemental object. The final film is then 0 tained by superimposing the negatives thus produced for printing in a Well known manner.

As shown in Figure 6 the mirror 14 consists of small sections which are guided along each other by tongue and groove formation as indicated at 20.

I also make use of a mirror or reflecting plate which is provided with a reflecting coat only at those points which correspond to the set or scene 4, and a further improvement of the method is accomplished by having the mirror referred to possess both reflecting as well as light transmitting properties, inasmuch as on its outer surface there is such a very thin reflecting coating that the mirror constitutes a transparent disc. This type of mirror is usually designated in the arts as half-transparent or translucent mirrors. Such a mirror is indicated at 7 in Figure 7. An opaque transparent paper or mask 40 is arranged behind this mirror and is of such a, size and shape as to exactly correspond to the image .of the set or scene 4 which is reflected from the semi-transparent mirror 7 so that the semi-transparent mirror will be opaque at these points and will also act to mask a complemental portion of the model 9. With such a mirror, however, objects that happen to be in the room where the picture is taken are liable to be reflected upon the part of the mirror which remains transparent. In order to obviate this draw-back, a shutter 25 is arranged between the set or scene 4 and the mirror 7 and provided with an opening 26 which conforms to the set or scene 4 on the corresponding scale, so

that the disturbances in the transparency of the mirror by any possible reflections are windows in an upper story of the miniature avoided.

In accordance with .Figure 7 the set or scene 4 is reproduced by the camera 5 and by means of the mirror 7 and the cooperating mask 40. Between the mirror 7 and the scene 4 the shutter 25 is arranged with the surface of the shutter confronting the mirror 7 shaped in such a manner as not to interfere with the corresponding portion of the picture and in consequence thereof disturbing reflecting phenomena in the mirror 7 n are perfectly avoided. Thus for example, if it be desired to use the front of a building as a total object as shown in Figure 8 only the portion surrounded by the dot-and-dash lines 27 is erected in full natural size and is placed at 4. The remaining complemental portion of the front of the building is disposed as a model 9 behind the mirror 7. In the arrangement shown in Figure 7 a supplemental scene as indicated at 32 is so placed that light rays from said supplemental some will be reflected by a mirror 31 placed on the model 9 into the camera 5 and since this portion of the model 9 which is covered by the mirror 31 is located above the upper edge of the mask 40 behind the mirror 7 the mask 40 will not interfere with the reflection of an image from a supplemental full sized model 32. lVith the use of mirror 31 persons who appear to be performing at the windows 28 of the third floor may be reproduced by placing several models 32 of natural size at the proper position and angle from the mirror 31. The full sized-models 32, for instance, represent windows in natural size and of the same design as the windows in the miniature model 9 so that images of persons appearing in the windows of the model 32 will be reflected into the camera 5 and form with the reflected image from the mirror 7 and the direct image from the model 9 a composite image which, when photographed, will give a picture of set or scene 4 with persons acting in front of this portion of the building combined with the picture of complemental portions of the model 9 and of the windows 28 with persons acting in the windows as viewed in the windows of the supplemental model 32.

In Figure 9 an arrangement is shown in which the mirror 31 is not employed on the model but mirrors 29 are mounted on the shutter 25 which is specially constructed for the purpose. The mirrors 29 are disposed at the precise points on the shutter 25 so that the mirrors 29 will reflect the image of the windows in the supplemental model 30 onto the mirror 7, the image in turn being formed on a frame or ground glass in the camera 5. The model 30, like the model 32, for instance, may represent a window in natural size and of the same design as the model 9. The advantage in the arrangement shown in Figure 9 over that of Figure 7 is the fact that persons may not only appear within the confines of the windows but they may lean out of a window and their images will be properly formed within the camera- 5 while in the construction shown in Figure 7 the persons acting at the windows must at all times maintain all portions of the body within the confines of the window. This is due to the fact that themirror 31 is formed on the building and will reflect only those portions of the model 32 which correspond to the shape and size of the mirror. In Figure 9, however, the mirrors 29 are placed on the shutter 25 and will reflect all objects or persons appearing about the full sized windows 30 through the cooperation of the mirrors 7 and there rovide an image in the camera 5 of the win ows and the persons acting in the model as indicated at 30. The shutter 25 must be so positioned that an image of the persons and windows in the model 30 will be produced in the camera 5 by means of the cooperating reflecting surfaces or mirrors 29 and 7. It also must be borne in mind that said image formed in the camera must be so correlated with the real image of the model 9 that persons will appear as acting in the window of the model when the composite image is viewed on a ground glass in the camera 5. It follows as a matter of course in adding the supplemental scene 30 at the proper place in the film that the reflecting surface of the mirror 7 must be increased in Figure 9 in order that the image of scene 30 may be reflected into the camera. This additional reflecting surface also masks the complemental portion of the model 9.

lVhere a semi-transparent mirror is employed, as has been previously described, a mask is provided for that portion of the semi-transparent mirror which corresponds in shape to the virtual image of the scene 30 as reflected by the mirror for reproduction on a film. The mirror or mirrors which have been placed on the shutter 25 must be so positioned relative to the top of the full sized complcmental set or scene 4 that said mirrors will not in any manner interfere with the light rays from said set. The semi-transparent mirror 7 a is particularly useful where it is desired to reflect only a small portion of a supplemental scene while directly photographing a complemental object, set or scene through the transparent member and in such a case if a large mirror were employed and the mirrored surface were removed except that loo transparent mirror and employ a small mask at the point desired.

In-certain cases it is necessary to employ a mirror in connection with a transparent surface for not only blending the images but for reflecting animage of a supplemental scene or complementarv portion of a scene with the mirror locate close to the camera but far away from the model or set. In this instance the transparent member having a portion of its surface partially mirrored is not practical, due to the fact that the blending by the mirror and the transparent member extends over too great a surface. The semi-transparent mirror in connection with a mask does not, in such a case, cause the blending to extend over too great a surface of the composite image so that the proper blending is had.

Figure 10 has. a simllar arrangement to that shown in Figure 7 except that the shutter is omitted. This is due to the fact that a transparent member is employed in this case as shown at 7 with only a portion of its surface provided with a reflecting surface, while in Figure 7 a shutter 25 is used in connection with a semi-transparent mirror 7 to prevent reflecting phenomena from the semi-transparent portions of the mirror which extend beyond the mask 40. This shutter resents another possibility for the taking 0 pictures, thus, for instance, in the case of the acting personages having to perform their parts at different levels, in which case according to my invention, such persons are enabled to perform their parts upon level ground and without the necessity of erecting expensive structures. The shutter for this purpose contains adjustable mirrors by means of which single actions may be transferred from a point of action on level ground to the corresponding points of the actual object. The said adjustable mirrors may also be inserted into the cone or vision of the apparatus at other points either between the main mirror and the apparatus or behind the main mirror in the model. In this case the persons performing upon a separate place may be pictured in the model through the transparent main mirror.

In the procedure just described the model is always bodily reperesented on a reduced or silhouettes in my divisional application for patent, filed September 5, 1925, Serial #454,732.

The invention has been described and shown in its broad aspects only, and .it should be understood that it is capable of such modifications and alterations as will better adapt it to existing conditions, and to the convenience of the user and without deviating'from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. The art of making com osite motion pictures of a set or scene an a second set which is complementary to the first set or scene -which comprises arranging a light transmitting member between the first set or scene and a camera, forming an image of a portion of one of the sets or scenes on a frame of the camera, simultaneously forming an image on the same frame of the complementary set or scene with a reflecting surface on the light transmitting member, said light transmitting member extending beyond the reflecting surface for blending the adjacent edges of the two images into each other by the coordinatiion of the refleeting surface and the transparent member.

2. The art of making composite pictures of a miniature reproduction of a set or scene and a full sized set or scene which is complementary to the miniature reproduction which comprises disposing the miniature reproduction Within range of a camera, masking a portion of said miniature reproduction with a reflecting surface, producing on the reflecting surface an image of the complementary set, and simultaneously photographing the unmasked portion of the miniature reproduction and the image reflected by the reflecting surface.

3. The art of making composite motion pictures of a miniature reproduction of a scene and a full sized set or scene which is complementary to the miniature, reproduction which comprises disposing the miniature-reproduction within range ofa camera, masking a portion of the miniature reproduction with a reflecting surface on a light transmitting member, portions of such member extending beyond'the edges of the reflecting surface, producing on the reflecting surface an image of the complementary set or scene, and simultaneously photographing the unmasked portion of the miniature reproduction through the light transmitting member, and the reflected image of the complementary set, the meeting edges of the light transmitting member and the reflecting surface cooperating to blend the meeting edges of the images.

4. The art of making composite motion pictures of a set or scene and a second set complementary to the first set or scene, which comprises disposing the first set or scene within range of a camera, masking a portion of said first set or scene with a reflecting surface, producing on the reflecting surface within range of the camera an image of the complementary set and blending the meeting edges of the composite image formed in the camera by coordinating a light transmitting member along the periphery of the reflecting surface Where the two images of the first and complementary sets are fitted together.

5. The art of making composite motion pictures of a set or scene and a second set complementary to the first set or scene, which comprises disposing the first set or scene within range of a camera, masking a portion of said first set or scene with a reflecting surface, producing on the reflecting surface Within range of the camera an image of the complementary set, and blending the meeting edges of the composite image formed in the camera by coordinating a light transmitting member along the periphery of the reflecting surface where the two images of the first and complementary sets are fitted together, photographing the unmasked portion of the first set or scene and the image reflected by the reflecting surface.

6. The art of making composite motion pictures of a set or scene and a second set complementary to the first set or scene which comprises disposing the first set or scene within range of a camera, masking a por-' tion of the first set or scene witha reflecting surface, producing on the reflecting surface,

within range of the camera an image of the complementary set, blending the edges of the two images formed in the camera by a light transmitting member coordinated with the reflecting surface, increasing the reflecting surface to include in the image moving objects which have passed beyond the range of the original reflecting surface, and then photographing the composite image formed in the camera. 7. The art of making composite motio pictures of a set or scene, and a second set complementary to the first set or scene, which comprises disposing the first set or scene within range of a camera, masking a portion of the first set or scene with a reflecting surface, producing on the reflecting surface within range of the camera, an image of the complementary set, blending the edges of the two ima es formed in the camera by a light transmitting member coordinated with the reflecting surface, photographing the composite image formed in the camera and increasing the reflecting surface between successive acts of photograph to include in the image moving objects w ich have passed beyond the range of the original reflecting surface.

8. The art of making composite motion pictures of a set or scene, and a second set complementary to the first set or scene, which comprises disposing the first set or scene within range of a camera, masking a portion of the first set or scene with a reflecting surface, producin on the reflecting surface, within range 0 the camera, an image of the complementary set, photographing the composite image formed in the camera, and increasing the reflecting surface between successive acts of photography to include in the image moving objects which have passed beyond the range of the original reflecting surface.

9. The art of making composite motion pictures of a set or scene, and a second set or scene complementary to the first set or scene, which comprises disposing the first set or scene within range of a camera, arranging a member having light transmitting qualities between the camera and the first set or scene, masking a portion of the light transmitting member and likewise a portion of the first set or scene, while providing for a reflecting surface on the masked portion of the light transmitting member, photographing the unmasked portion of the set or scene directly through the member having light transmittin qualities and at the same time photograp ing an image of the complementary set or scene reflected by the masked portion of the light transmitting member, blending the meeting edges of the images formed in the camera by cooperation of the member having light transmitting qualities and the reflecting surface provided on the light transmitting member.

10. The art of making composite motion pictures of a set or scenefand a second set complementary to the first set or scene which comprises disposing the first set or scene within range of a camera, arranging a light transmitting member having a reflecting portion between the camera and the first set or scene, masking. a portion of said first set or scene by the reflecting portion of said light transmitting member, forming an image of the unmasked portion of the set or scene on a frame in a camera, and at the same time forming on the same frame an image of the complementary set by the reflecting portion of said transparent member, the meeting edges of the images being blendmodel with a reflecting surface on a transparent member, forming an image of the unmasked portion of the model on a frame in the camera and at the same time forming an image of the complementary set or scene on the same frame with the reflecting sur-' face on said transparent member, the latter extending beyond the reflecting surface. and at the same time blending the edges of the two images into each other by the reflecting surface and the trans arent member.

12. The art of ma 'ngcomposite motion pictures of a miniature reproduction of a set or scene and a.full sized set or scene forming a complementary portion of the uctoin which comprises disposing the complementary portion of the set miniature repro n front of a mirror carried by a trans. arent member which extends beyond the periphery of the mirror, positioning the miniature reproduction at the rear of theflmirror, producing on a frame in a camera an image directly from the miniature reproduction, and at the same time producing on the same frame an image of the complementary full sized portion of the set by reflection from the mirror, the adjacent edges of the composite images being blended bythe mirror and the transparent member.

13. An apparatus for use in taking composite motion pictures comprising a miniature reproduction of a set or scene, a sup plemental full sized'set or scene forming a complementary portion of the miniature reproduction, a camera, and a transparent member having a mirror on a portion of its surface located between the miniature reproduction and the camera and disposed at such an angle that an image of the complementary portion will be reflected into the the co photographed by the camera.

camera, a portion. of the miniature reproduction being visible'through the transparent member so that that ortion of the miniature re reduction whic appears beyond nes of the mirror may be directly 14. An apparatus for usein taking comgosite motion pictures comprising a threeimensional model of a set or scene a supplemental full sized set or scene forming a complementary portion of the model, a camera, a light transmitting member located between the model and the camera, a mirror on the surface of the light transmitting member and having a less area than the light transmitting member, the mirror and light transmitting member being disposed at 'an' angle, to the axis of the camera so that the reflection of an image of the complementary portion will be directed into the camera for photographing with that portion of the miniature reproduction which is visible through the transparent member, the transparent member and the mirror at points adjacent their meeting edges cooperating to blend the meeting edges of the images formed in the camera.

15. The art of making composite motion pictures of a miniature reproduction of a set or scene and a full sized set or. scene which is complementary to the miniature reproduction which comprises disposing the miniature reproduction within range of a camera, masking a portion of said miniature reproduction with a reflecting surface mounted on a transparent member having a greater area than the reflecting surface so that the' transparent member will extend beyond the. periphery .of said reflecting surface, and producing on the reflecting surface an image of the complementary set and hotographing the unmasked portion of the miniature reproductions and. the

reflected image on a single frame in the camera, the transparent member and reflecting surface cooperating to blend the meeting' edges of the images formed on the'frame in the camera.

' I EUGEN SCHUFFTAN. 

